Window well raising in Toronto runs $800–$1,800 per well, covering the lift of the well wall to the correct height above grade, drainage reconnection, and backfill. That range is a starting point only, the final cost varies a lot depending on job size, scope, and site conditions, and we confirm the real number after a free on-site evaluation.
When a window well needs raising
Most raises we do in Toronto fall into one of four situations:
- The well sits too low against a raised grade. A new patio, deck, interlock walkway, or regraded yard pushes soil up against the window. The well has to come up with it, or soil and meltwater pour in.
- Water is getting in over the rim. Toronto's freeze-thaw cycle heaves the ground, and wells that were fine five winters ago now sit flush with or below the soil line. During a fast spring melt, that water goes straight to the foundation.
- The window was replaced and the egress path changed. A different window unit can shift the clear opening and sill height. If the well no longer supports a code-compliant exit, it gets raised or rebuilt.
- The well is undersized for building code exit sizing. Under OBC 9.9.10.1, an egress window needs a clear opening of at least 0.35 m² (about 3.8 sq ft), no less than 380 mm in either dimension, and a sill no higher than 1,000 mm above the floor. The well has to let a person actually get out through that opening, a deep, narrow well that fails that test needs work, not just a taller wall.
What's included
Every raise is quoted as a package, not an hourly rate:
- Site evaluation and measurement, including verification of the existing opening against OBC 9.9.10.1
- Soil excavation around the well to expose the existing structure and footing
- Removal and disposal of the old well where it can't be extended
- New well wall in galvanised corrugated steel, precast concrete, or composite, set to the correct height above finished grade
- Drainage reconnection, gravel bed, filter cloth, and tie-in to the existing weeping tile or a dedicated discharge, designed for Toronto's freeze-thaw rather than against it
- Backfill, compaction, and grading away from the foundation
- Reinstallation or supply of a window well cover
- Cleanup and haul-away of all excavated material
Where the well opening in a masonry wall has to change, we also handle lintel work, the steel angle that carries the brick above the opening. Cutting a wider opening without a properly sized and bearing lintel is a structural problem, not a cosmetic one.
What drives the cost up or down
| Factor | Effect on price |
|---|---|
| Height of the raise | A 6–12 in. lift is the cheapest job. Anything over about 24 in. needs more material, more excavation, and often a guard. |
| Well length and shape | Long or curved wells use more material and take longer to fit. |
| Material | Corrugated steel is the budget option; precast concrete and custom composite sit at the top. |
| Existing well condition | If it can be extended in place, you save the removal and disposal cost. Rusted-through steel usually can't. |
| Drainage | A simple gravel bed is cheap. A new tie-in to the weeping tile, a sump connection, or a french drain adds real money. |
| Access | Tight downtown lots, no rear lane, or a well behind a finished deck means hand excavation. That's labour-heavy. |
| Permit | If the work touches the egress opening or exit sizing, a Toronto building permit is required and adds fees plus inspection scheduling. |
Free on-site estimate · no obligation
Window well raising pricing
| Scope | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Standard raise, corrugated steel, up to 12 in., drainage reused | $800–$1,100 |
| Raise of 12–24 in., new gravel bed, cover reinstall | $1,100–$1,500 |
| Precast or custom well, drainage rework, difficult access | $1,500–$1,800 |
All three ranges are estimates for planning. Final cost varies a lot depending on job size, scope, and site conditions, soil type, how deep the existing well is set, whether the old well comes out cleanly, and what we find once we excavate. We don't quote firm numbers over the phone.
Related work is priced separately: window well covers $300–$900, drainage and waterproofing $500–$3,000, leak repair $500–$2,000, full replacement $500–$2,000, and full egress window installation $4,500–$8,000. Each of those varies a lot by job size, scope, and site conditions too.
Our process
Free site evaluation, booked within 48 hours
We measure the well, check the opening against code exit sizing, and look at how water currently moves on the property
Written quote with the scope spelled out
Material, height, drainage plan, and whether a permit is needed
Permit application if required
Any change to the egress opening or exit dimensions goes through the City of Toronto before we start
Excavation
Soil removed by hand or machine depending on access, stockpiled or hauled out same day
Well set and drainage tied in
New well levelled and fixed, gravel and filter cloth installed, discharge confirmed
Backfill and grade
Compacted in lifts, sloped away from the wall
Cover and final walkthrough
You see the drainage tested before we leave
Most single-well raises finish in one day. Two or more wells, or a job with drainage rework, usually runs two.
Why homeowners across Toronto choose us
We're a family-run basement contractor with 12 years of below-grade work and more than 400 egress windows and window wells installed across Toronto and the GTA, from Leslieville and East York semis to North York and Etobicoke homes with deeper lots. We're licensed, insured, and WSIB covered, and every install carries a 10-year workmanship warranty. We install year-round because we design drainage for the freeze-thaw cycle instead of hoping the weather cooperates.
Get a free quote
Book a free site evaluation and we'll give you a written quote within 48 hours, measured, itemised, and based on your actual well rather than a phone estimate. No obligation, no pressure, and we'll tell you straight if a raise isn't the right fix for your water problem.
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